Sunny Daze

SO FAR

A Gentle September

hoppers last stand

WALLPAPER:  SUNNY SEPTEMBER - MADISON RIVER

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.. Another 10 days for mostly sunny weather will allow any remaining hoppers and beetles to find the water.
.. Evenings in the 50's and overnight soft freezes will slow the morning terrestrial bite for most of the neighborhood rivers.
.. The last of the flying ants are splatting on the water as well. Compensation in the form of a sparse spinner fall is not enough to drag most of the neighbors out of bed before 10:00 AM.

TRADE SECRETS

.. The Madison River just down the road is yielding some large fish that have probably run up from Hebgen Reservoir. It's not too early to strip a streamer - just for fun.
.. The Firehole River has perked up nicely over the last week with a genuine dump of caddis flies. The white ones, the brown ones, the big ones and the little ones are around for most of the day. Should you be lucky enough to bump into a Baetid hatch the surface action will justify carrying that box too.
.. It looks like the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park is getting a break. The periodic torrential rains have diminished and flows in the rivers have stabilized to the point that the famous waters are attracting fishers again. Terrestrials are still active over there and beetles, hoppers and ants should provide good catching when the little flies are not hatching.
.. It's not widely publicized but Slough Creek gathers up some monster spawners of the slashed throat variety, Third Meadow can yield some brutes if you are willing to forgo the dainty flies and swing or strip a streamer. The gravels are perfect - fishers forget this most of the time: the fish remember. By the way the big Fall Drakes are seemingly more prolific this year than usual - be prepared!

GROCERIES

.. The lowland Madison River is attracting a large flotilla of drifters as the sun warms the water and presents a smorgasbord of bugs for the edification of fish and fishers alike. Flying ants, caddis, beetles and hoppers are all in the offing. Nymphs are a go-to selection with big Rubber Legs and small Shop Vac a good combination.Stripping streamers will raise some of the brutal carnivores that inhabit the river. They are getting fidgety right now.
.. Down low the morning bite is on the slow side and it is common to see drift boats parked and fishers dredging the deep runs with scrumptious offerings to entice the lethargic trout. Whitefish have been active and these iridescent beauties are very willing to take your nymphs as well.
.. If you fish the wade section be prepared to cover lots of water and hold on tight the submarines are on the move.

SWEET REVENGE

.. The big meadows on the Gibbon River and the small meadows around Norris Campground are already being fished for spawning fish. they traverse these sections and park and rest for a spell in the deep pockets, under the banks and in the dark water. Fish for them and quickly release them they are bright and beautiful and rare.
.. Know the weeds on Hebgen Reservoir. Gulping has slowed to a sparse activity for the fish. The bugs are about done with their sexual escapades. Find and fish the edge of the deep weeds with a streamer or a soft hackle. Not too much action on the fly will gather up the big fish that haven't started toward the estuaries.
.. Staging in the estuaries is now a fishy activity. As the Fall run of spawners begins to unfold the fish and fishers will be crowding both the shore and water around the mouths of rivers. Streamers and giant nymphs are the way that the neighbors prick these laggards.
.. When the Gallatin River warms it is teeming with bug life and feeding fish. Hope not to see you there this afternoon.

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WALLPAPER:  CORNBREAD AND SWEET BEANS